TPC votes to recommend enumeration of I‑39/90/94 Madison–Dells study
January 01, 2024 | Department of Transportation, Executive Departments, Executive, Wisconsin
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The Transportation Projects Commission voted to recommend enumeration of the I‑39/90/94 Madison–Wisconsin Dells corridor study on Sept. 15, 2024, enabling the Department of Transportation to seek placement of the project in the biennial budget and advance final design and construction planning.
DOT staff told the commission the corridor, originally built in the 1960s, carries between about 40,000 vehicles per day in rural segments and up to 110,000 in urban sections, and is a major freight route with roughly 25% truck traffic. Scott Shaneman, director for the Bureau of State Highway Programs, said the current project estimate is $3,700,000,000 in current‑year dollars and that a two‑year delay to enumeration would add roughly $392,000,000 to the total cost. He described persistent safety and structural issues, saying approximately 60% of the corridor's 113 structures are near the end of their useful life and that the corridor experiences about 2.5 crashes per day and “a fatality approximately every other month.”
DOT officials described the preferred build alternative as a mix of lane additions, collector‑distributor lanes to separate weaving movements, modernization of about 15 service interchanges and three system interchanges, noise barriers where feasible, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations where practicable. Shaneman cited modeled crash reductions of 11–13% on the mainline — roughly 30–35 fewer injury crashes per year — and noted larger reductions at some interchanges.
Agency staff explained that "enumeration" means placing a specific statutory reference to the project in the state budget, authorizing the department to spend construction funds if the legislature and governor include the project in the biennial appropriation. DOT staff also emphasized enumeration does not by itself increase the majors program appropriation; the project must fit within the program's appropriation once enumerated.
A motion to recommend enumeration as a traditional major project under Wisconsin statute 84.03 was moved, seconded and carried after voice votes. The commission recorded no detailed roll‑call tally in the transcript for that motion.
Next steps for the project include pursuing necessary environmental approvals, refining cost and schedule during final design, and seeking funding through the biennial budget; DOT staff told the commission they would pursue discretionary federal grants where appropriate and work to align the project with the majors program budget.
The TPC proceeded to consider other items on the agenda after the vote.
DOT staff told the commission the corridor, originally built in the 1960s, carries between about 40,000 vehicles per day in rural segments and up to 110,000 in urban sections, and is a major freight route with roughly 25% truck traffic. Scott Shaneman, director for the Bureau of State Highway Programs, said the current project estimate is $3,700,000,000 in current‑year dollars and that a two‑year delay to enumeration would add roughly $392,000,000 to the total cost. He described persistent safety and structural issues, saying approximately 60% of the corridor's 113 structures are near the end of their useful life and that the corridor experiences about 2.5 crashes per day and “a fatality approximately every other month.”
DOT officials described the preferred build alternative as a mix of lane additions, collector‑distributor lanes to separate weaving movements, modernization of about 15 service interchanges and three system interchanges, noise barriers where feasible, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations where practicable. Shaneman cited modeled crash reductions of 11–13% on the mainline — roughly 30–35 fewer injury crashes per year — and noted larger reductions at some interchanges.
Agency staff explained that "enumeration" means placing a specific statutory reference to the project in the state budget, authorizing the department to spend construction funds if the legislature and governor include the project in the biennial appropriation. DOT staff also emphasized enumeration does not by itself increase the majors program appropriation; the project must fit within the program's appropriation once enumerated.
A motion to recommend enumeration as a traditional major project under Wisconsin statute 84.03 was moved, seconded and carried after voice votes. The commission recorded no detailed roll‑call tally in the transcript for that motion.
Next steps for the project include pursuing necessary environmental approvals, refining cost and schedule during final design, and seeking funding through the biennial budget; DOT staff told the commission they would pursue discretionary federal grants where appropriate and work to align the project with the majors program budget.
The TPC proceeded to consider other items on the agenda after the vote.
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